Eleanor Ann Duff1

b. circa 14 September 1817, d. 27 August 1879
Birth-Calccirca 14 Sep 1817 Eleanor Ann Duff was born in Virginia circa 14 Sep 1817 (calculated from the date and age on her headstone).1 
Marriage7 Jun 1838 She married Aaron Hendrix Hayter, son of James C. Hayter and Tabitha Fullen, on 7 Jun 1838 in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Land13 Oct 1841  Aaron's father, James C. Hayter, purchased a large tract of land in 1838. When it was fully paid for James instructed that the deed be entered in Aaron's name. The recording date was Oct. 13, 1841.3 
  Aaron built a large brick home on the property (see photo link below). The construction date has been reported as 1848 or 1858.4,5 
  Wide steps led up to the front door which opened to reveal delicately carved walnut woodwork. A basement below the house held slave quarters.6 
Cens-185029 Jul 1850  The family appears to have been living in the home, or at least on the land gifted to Aaron by his father, when the 1850 census was recorded. Besides Aaron (33) and Ellen (32), the household included Hiram (10), William (8), Sarah (6), Thomas (3) and Samuel (1). Aaron's occupation was entered as "farmer"; his land was vaued at $1,600.7 
  Aaron and Eleanor's immediate neighbors included John Maiden and his sons. Thirty years later the 1880 census would record Aaron and Eleanor's children living near John Maiden's children and grandchildren. 
Cens-186023 Jun 1860  Aaron and his brother James were enumerated as adjacent households in 1860. Both men claimed land worth $10,000 and personal property worth $15,000. By 1860 Aaron and Eleanor's family included 7 children (5 sons and 2 daughters).8 
  The 1860s were difficult years for Eleanor. Her youngest child, Aaron Whitley Hayter, died from diphtheria in Nov. 1861 at age 7. A few months earlier, in May 1861, Eleanor's two oldest sons, Hiram and William, enlisted in the Confederate Army. Hiram was killed at the Battle of Cedar Run on Aug. 9, 1862. The following month Eleanor was widowed when Aaron died at age 46. Sixteen months later, in Jan. 1864 Eleanor lost her 18 year old daughter Sarah. 
Cens-187019 Jul 1870  By the summer of 1870 Eleanor was a patient at the Western Lunatic Asylum at Staunton in Augusta County, Virginia.9 
Death27 Aug 1879 She died on 27 Aug 1879 in Washington County from what was described in the language of the time as insanity and related issues.10,1 
Burial Eleanor was buried at Hayter Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.1 
The home Aaron and Eleanor built about 1848/1858 near the intersection of Maiden Creek and Shortsville Roads. The home eventually passed into the hands of their daughter Dorcas Shortt, who was photographed with her husband and children on the front porch. Click on the camera icon for a larger image11

Family

Aaron Hendrix Hayter b. 7 Mar 1816, d. 7 Sep 1862
Children
Last Edited5 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 117. Stone reported to read: Eleanor Ann Hayter, w/o Aaron H. Hayter, d. 27 Aug. 1879, age 61y 11m 13d.
  2. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 31. Aaron Hayter marr Eleanor Ann Duff, 7 Jun 1838.
  3. [S3023] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 15, 1841-1842, abstracting Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 15: 134. The metes and bounds, and acreage were not recorded in the deed, but referenced to the records of a chancery suit wherein William T. Johnston & Elizabeth, his wife, and Richard Weisiger & Patty, his wife, were the complainants, and Nancy Moore, Mary Goode and others were defendants.
  4. [S1616] Joanna Owens, "George Crenshaw home," e-mail to Diana Powell, 7 Apr. 2013. Dr. Owens visted the home when it was owned by her uncle George Crenshaw and/or his widow. She reports that the year 1848 was marked in the front right upper corner near the roof, and was probably covered during a 1970s era renovation.
  5. [S952] "Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #6 (Spring, 1968): 28. Article titled "Hayter House" states that the home was built in 1858 by Aaron Hayter. The author of the article is not stated, however a general note at the front of the publication states that most of the articles were originally written by Mrs. Phebe Fullerton Blevins and published in the Bristol Herald Courier and Roanoke Times in 1959 and 1959. The article states that the Hayter house was built in 1858 however there is no source provided for that statement.
  6. [S2594] "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Apr. 2013), "Shortt Hochhauser Cohen Stock/Stark Family Tree", entries for Americus D. Shortt, Dorcas Hayter and their children. The pages include a digitized image fom an undated newspaper article titled "Hayter Home Stands As Romantic Reminder Of Grandfather's Era."
  7. [S367] Aaron Hayter household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. 18 (original script), dwelling 124, family 124, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2013. Household includes: Aaron Hayter, 33, farmer, owns land worth $1,600; Ellen, 32; Hiram, 10; William, 8; Sarah, 6; Thos, 3; Samuel, 1; all b. VA.
  8. [S234] Aaron Hayter household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 61 (original script), dwelling 420, family 415, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2013. Household includes: Aaron Hayter, 44, farmer, owns land worth $10,000 and personal property worth $15,000; Ellen, 43; Hiram, 21, farmer; William, 19, clerk; Sarah, 13; Thomas, 12; Samuel, 10; Dorcas, 8; Whitley, 6; all b. VA.
  9. [S3144] 1870 U.S. cens, Augusta Co., VA, pop. sched., Western Lunatic Asylum at Staunton, p. 116 (original script), viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2013. Entry for Eleanor Hayter (line 31), patient, age 53, white female, b. VA, insane.
  10. [S2318] Ellenor Hayter entry, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, Mortality Schedule, Saltville District, p. 1516 (stamped), line 320, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Ellenor Hayter, 62, white female, widowed, b. VA, parents b. VA, d. Aug [1879] from insanity and complications of. [disease?]
  11. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Richard Shortt.
  12. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 117. Stone reported to read: Hiram Hayter, s/o Aaron H. & Eleanor A. Hayter, 22 Mar 1839-10 Aug 1862.
  13. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 117. Stone reported to read: Sarah A.H. Hayter, s/o Aaron H. & Eleanor A. Hayter, 7 Jun 1845-17 Jan. 1864.
  14. [S3143] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 29, 1871-May 1872, abstracting Washington Co. VA Deed Bk 29: 228, 328, 426, 428: set of deeds dated 9 Oct. 1871 whereby William D. Hayter (and Nancy H.A., wife), Thomas J. Hayter (and Sarah J., wife), Samuel E. Hayter, and Dorcus E. Short [sic], formerly Dorcus E. Hayter (and husband A.D.L. Short) divided the land which descended to them as children and heirs of their father Aaron H. Hayter, dec'd.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 117. Stone reported to read: Aaron W. Hayter, s/o Aaron H. & Eleanor A. Hayter, 30 Nov. 1853-20 Nov 1861.